The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-03
INVESTIGATIONS ORDERED.
The Management of the State Institu-
tons 70 BE Thoroughly 0verhauled.
4 Reconsideration Carries the Civil-Service
Bill to ACKNOWLEDGMENT as
to Mr.. Jewetts Eligibility.

legislation was not such as TO strengthen their
record either for Investigations reform in the
States civil service. They used about hour
of the Houses morning session in obstructing
the adoption of preamble and resolution that
seeks to show the truth or falsty Of that party's
management of the State institutions 1t was
not violent opposition, but it appeared never
theless in dilatory motions and amendments.
But finally they submitted, after making an Ell
fort to have the resolution concurrent one, so
it could be killed in the Senate. 1t was offered
by Representative Brown, and, as adopted,
reads substantially that lit is charged that gross
negligence, cruel and inhuman treatment, mis-
appropriation of funds, mismanagement and
corruption exists in the management of the
Hospital for the Insane of this State,
the Institute for the Deaf and Dumb,
prisons at Jacksonville and Michigan City.
The resolution then authorizes the committees
on benevolent and scientific institutions and
affairs Of the State prisons to make thor
ough investigation of the management of said
institutions and of all charges against the man.
agement of the same The committees ara TO
send for and compel the attendance before
them of any person to testify and to compel
the production and inspection of any paper
books that may be deemed necessary by them
to be produced and inspected in making such
investigation. After this the committees are to
make detailed report of the result of their in
vestigation to the House at early period as
practicable.
This was hardly out Of the way before the
Democrats were called upon to face another
recorded vote on the Griffith civil-service bill
REPRESENTATIVE Osborn moved to reconsider The
vote by which the minority report, recommend
ing the indefinite postponement of the bill, was
substituted the day before for that Of the
1ority. There consideration led to concurrence
in the latter report by SO yeas. all Republicans
except Robinson, to A nays. An amendment
by Repre- sentative VanSlyke reducing the ap-
pointable commissioners to two, one from each
dominant political party, was accepted, and
then Representative Robinson offered an amend
ment which, compared with the performance in
the joint convention. came, doubtless, in the
nature OF freak. It wanted the commission
ers selected from the three parties, the third
being the Green back Labor. whose interests he
sfterward threw into mid-ar. Representatives
Gordon and Kelison, who knew what was to
occur. made pretense of opposition, but the
amendment accepted Mr. Kellson said
that under no circumstances would he favor the
bill Representative Ibach presented an amend
ment to apply the service to all deputy State
officers, but this was voted down. and the bill
then went to engrossment.
A lively discussion occurred on the special or
heDr06eE tatlVe
Foster, resulting in its being recommtted to the
committee, with instructions to report Wedues-
day next The amendments recommended by
the committee were radical, but all are on an
extremely low grade of salaries In counties of
co. 900 population and less sheriffs, clerks treas
urers and auditors will receive. if the bill be-
comes law. $1,000 per annum; in counties
from this up to %, 600, an increase Of $780, and
up TO $4,000 and over, no more than $4,000 Re-
corders. however, will receive according to this
scale, $1,000, 81, 200 and $1,000. Sheriffs' fees
for boarding prisoners were increased to 40 cents
per capita. and all officers are to be allowed to
appoint their assistants and deputies But one
deputy is to be given to the clerks and sheriffs
In the counties Of 20 000 and under. who are to
be prfd 6nsy $3.50 per year. In the next grade
the same officers, with treasurer and auditor
are to have butte deputy, at $3.50 per annum,
and in the next the clerk can have deputy at
5000 and another at $3.50, except in counties in
which there are circuit. criminal and superior
courts, to each Of which a deputy at $3.50 can be
appointed. The treasurer is to have but one
deputy at 5000, but in February, March.
April and May he can have an ad-
ditional deputy at $40 per month
In this last grade OF counties the sherffs depu
hes are to be two-one at 5000, and the other at
s4S0. 1t is provided that additional service can
be obtained by applying to the judges of circuit
courts, but these assistants are not to receive
more than $40 per month The officers are not
to draw their full quarterly salaries until they
have paid into the treasury sufficient fees to
can get and wait for the next quarter for the
rest of the pay if the fees fall below the amount
required To see that such a measure as this
does not reach its third reading and passage, a
large lobby of county officers will be on the spot,
"a it was Yesterday.
In the afternoon Speaker Sayre referred to the
committee elections a memorial relating to
the contest of Representative Jewetts Seat The
gentleman to whom the memorial referred asked
for its reading. but this not granted. as the
paper belonged to the files of the committee or
elections as to matters upon which it had as ye
taken no action 1t is charged by l.. L. Pierce tina
Mr. Jewett is not entitled to his seat because thu
canvassing board guilty of irregularities
and misconduct in not carefully comparing the
papers intrusted to it, and because it did not az
gregate tabulate from them statement o
the vote, as required by law. It is also charged
that the members of the board did not sign AM
paper showing that Mr.. Jewett had received tn
highest vote, was any certificate made I
that effect.
resolution offered by Representative Linck
calling for an investigation of the State treas
ury was adopted. In its preamble 1t is recte
that in the years 1884 1885 and 1886 there wer
yumors current of a serious nature affecting tn
treasury of the State and the treasurer thereof
and that the funds belonging to the State shcul
be held, used and expended strictly according t
law, and not otherwise
The resolution empowers the Speaker to az
point committee of five members to investigat
the said treasury and the treasurer thereof, fo
and during the years aforesaid, and to report q
its convenience. The committee is to take ev
dence at such times and places as it may deer
proper, and have power to send for persons
books and papers, and employ a clerk and steI
ographer.
TILE PROCEEDINGS in DETAIL,
"